Now that Joe Hockey has surely confirmed he's too ******** to ever be leader, he should jump ship to the Greens. Pretty sure Benchy would be a big fan of his defection, what with Hockey now officially contradicting Benchy's free market views

"I am very happy and it will allow me to have lot more rice."

Eoin Morgan on being given a rice cooker for being Man of the Match in a Dhaka Premier Division game.

Ken Henry on the risks involved in bringing the budget back to surplus too quickly. Just a shame for labour that they don't have the economic credibility with the public to try and explain this in the media. Hopefully Swan works with these comments this week, could still be used to slag on the opposition which seems to be his 'comfort zone' in political discourse.

Notwithstanding his natural tendency to "ferocious" opposition, a tactic that has worked very well for him so far, Abbott's political future hinges on creating and maintaining an air of crisis and instability around the Gillard Government.

This will rely on being very negative for a long time which will turn people further of the Liberals. Intersting thing is that rational observers can claim on the one hand it's his best strategy to win the next election, but at the same time show statistics which say other than "they took ere jerbs" issues in mining states, they don't have any current traction in NSW,VIC, TAS and SA.

Yes, I think after being thrown out of a long period of office, the experienced old guard is entitled to have the first crack at fast tracking your way straight back into Government at the following election. Geez, Beazley and Abbott almost pulled it off in 1998 and 2010. However, if you fail, you really need to renew - if not your leader than at the very least your front bench and your back bench particularly if they occupy safe seats like Ruddock, B Bishop etc.

I happen to think that Abbott is the best leader for at least the next year. However, if he starts to slide right off in the opinion polls. then like with Beazley, there probably is no way back and he probably shouldn't get another shot at the title.